Is it worth upgrading a CD player?

I’ve preferred the Cambridge CXC transport to any of my older CD players or my Oppo 103 used as a transport...it's inexpensive, and I find the transport does matter...

I have an Oppo 105 which I've enjoyed for years. Highly regarded and lauded. Then Iauded a Schiit Gungnir DAC, making the Oppo a transport and the sound just bloomed! 

Your Marantz first was produced in 2007, 15 years ago. You could probably stand to invest in a more modern CD transport - the California Audio Labs Tercet Mk 3 comes to mind and then experiment with DACs. 

@facten

I’d suggest ignoring any advice that suggests that the transport doesn’t matter, that bits are bits, yada , yada, yada

I agree with your entire post and particularly this wise advice.
OP if you’re really happy with your current situation and sound quality, leave it alone. If you are determined to extract more from your CD listening experience, that is definitely possible. Just depends on what you are ultimately trying to accomplish.

As facten said, ignore the “bits is bits” mindset. A dedicated high quality CD transport will very positively impact your listening experience. DAC quality matters , and so does transport quality. A mediocre CD /digital source is only going to mitigate what a good DAC is capable of providing. Better CD transport means better DAC performance. This comprises your digital front end. They work in harmony as a pair, not in isolation from one another.

Inevitably all topics concerning CD playback will have the streaming alternative thrown in. Just the way it is now. That’s your call obviously. I believe that nearly everyone at this point is aware of the existence of streaming. However, there are plenty of listeners who prefer physical media and spinning CDs. Strange as that may be. So strictly a preference issue. 

Charles

@carlsbad 

Streamers Have extremely low bit rate requirements and most cashe the data. My streamers work flawlessly when I cannot get my news page to refresh on my iPad. Clearly a DAC is important, but like everything else in high quality audio, sound quality is hindered by your weakest link. I have streamed using, iPods, iPhones, PCs, MACs, iPads and about half a dozen dedicated streamers (and also DACs)… and the streamer really maters! Like every other component.

@jerryg123

If playing a CD has better sound qualityr or streaming is better is completely dependent on your equipment. On my equipment Red Book CD is eclipsed by HR streaming and equaled by streaming of Red Book CD format. In fact on average streaming equals my very good vinyl leg.

Which is my point. If you are going to work on a particular source… streaming is the one to pursue… the cost / benefit of having top notch streaming just completely eclipses buying and owning CDs.

I have given away my 2,000 CDs. They serve no purpose after a couple years of just collecting dust.

You can always improve your musical reproduction, but the question would be why.  If you are happy with the music then leave things alone, because real solid improvement means examining all components from power to speakers and determining the best order to replace components and that can be the start of a major outflow of cash.  I started thinking that I would just do one thing and then I realized that I wasted my money without another upgrade and so it went for the last eight or nine months. Don't start if you are happy where you are.

@side22olto  - I haven't heard your DAC so I can't offer an opinion on its SQ. As far as whether or not you may or may not heard a difference with another transport in combination with it only you can decide by listening with your equipment. However,  in general better transports  offer SQ improvements as they allow the DAC to better realize its SQ potential. If you are going to stay with a separate DAC I will agree with newbee to spend the money on a dedicated transport versus another CD player acting as a transport. If you are in the US companies such as Crutchfield & Audio Advisor have 30 day return policies so you can audition a transport that's in the price range of your DAC.  Net net, having 1st hand experience with this in my own systems , I'd suggest ignoring any advice that suggests that the transport doesn't matter, that bits are bits, yada , yada, yada

Thanks for all your responses! I have around 1,000 CD’s boxed up (after switching back to vinyl 7 years ago, oh the irony) and I just did a trial on Qobuz which was great but I’m looking interested in playing the CD boxsets I have where the bonus discs weren’t ever released on vinyl so it’s my only way to hear alternate takes, unreleased tracks, etc.). At this stage my CD player is basically a transporter as it feeds into the Audiolab M-DAC+. From the comments above, as I’m happy with my DAC I should stick with what I have. Thanks again.

My advice is the opposite of @kota1 .  The DAC is the most important part of a CD system.  If you have a DAC you like, then you are really just using the CD player as a CD transport, sending a digital signal to the DAC.

Streaming you are fighting bit losses as large files are sent over the internet.  I don't know for sure, and maybe someone who knows can speak up here, but I think CD players are much closer to "lossless".  If that is the case, there is not much to be gained.  

The key to digital is to get a DAC you like and it sounds like you have.  Once you have that DAC, I would never use the DAC in a cd player.

Jerry

Streaming is not always the answer, If one has a large collection of CD’s. Though it is close CD sound quality is better.

@newbee

+1

Transport. But,

Also, it will depend on your other equipment. Rega makes a really large range integrated amps from extremely inexpensive to much less inexpensive. Which do you have and speakers? What is your longer termed goals? Move your system up? Or just bring your CD player closer to your vinyl playback?

If thinking longer termed, I would consider a streamer as transport instead of physical media. For the price of a CD / month you get access to a nearly infinite amount of music, much at a higher resolution than CD. Streaming can equal or exceed the sound quality of Other digital content or even vinyl at different price points.

Big difference as @newbee stated. Look for a slightly used Bel Canto CD3t, compact, and built like a tank. I have one and love it. Love the small footprint and big sound even though most my CD's are now on my Innuos Statement. 

Actually there is considerable difference between a CD transport (what you are using your Marantz as) and dedicated transports. I have and use regularly an Audiolab 6000. A transport on devise. I have 3 very good CDP’s - used as a transport alone the Audiolab is ’better’ than any of them, however when used as a CDP they sound much better. If you are happy with your present DAC I would simply upgrade your ’transport’ to something like the Audiolab. Cambridge has a pretty good one as well. Personally I would investigate getting a good DAC and Transport.

To answer your basic question about the level of improvement I would say this depends on your level of listening skills and the importance to you of the differences you might hear in new stuff. If you are presently happy with what you have, why change, just continue to enjoy your music.

I don't think it would be much improvement unless you spent $$$ on a dedicated player without a dac inline (black ice audio cdp, marantz sacd/cdp, etc)